Gordon tells Medialdea: Don't blame Senate probe for rising COVID-19 cases

The Senate, which has been conducting an inquiry into the purchase of alleged "overpriced" COVID-19 supplies, should not be blamed for the continuing rise of COVID-19 infections, Senator Richard Gordon said on Monday.

Gordon was reacting to the remark of Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea that senators should just file the necessary cases against officials over the alleged overpriced procurement of COVID-19 items instead of wasting time by conducting an inquiry.

According to reports, Medialdea said the probe is being conducted in a time where there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, noting that key officials in the COVID-19 battle are instead being called to attend the Senate probe.

Gordon stressed that the Senate blue ribbon committee only invited Health Secretary Francisco Duque to attend the hearing.

"I want to make it on record that we only invited the Secretary of Health, according to our director general but we are being accused that we are taking time from the business at hand and we are being blamed on the sudden increase of... nasisi kami na tumaas raw dahil sa pag-imbita namin sa mga tao rito, hindi na raw makagalaw ang gobyerno," Gordon said as the committee do a roll call of resource persons for the resumption of the hearing.

"Mr. Medialdea, kilala ko po kayo, magkaibigan po tayo pero alam naman po ninyo na matindi ang tama nito, huwag ninyo naman sa amin isisi," he added.

Gordon clarified that Duque was the one who brought the other officials of the health agency.

"I believe Secretary Duque is entitled to bring whoever he intends to bring... everytime we ask him, magtatanong siya sa kanyang mga kasama sa DOH. Hindi naman namin inimbita 'yung mga 'yun..." the senator said.

In the same way, Gordon said, that the Senate only required the presence of PhilHealth chief Dante Gierran but he is free to bring his staff.

Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III underscored during the hearing that the legislative branch of the government has the mandate to check how public funds are being spent.

Sotto said the public must know how the money is being utilized.

"It just so happens that the Constitution says the legislature has the power of the purse. We are looking how people's money is being spent," he said.

The inquiry was sought after the Commission on Audit flagged DOH's transfer of P42 billion funds to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management for the purchase of face masks and face shields at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation secured more than P8 billion worth of government contracts for the said procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs), which were believed to be overpriced.—AOL, GMA News